The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-18
MORNING NEWS LIBRARY, NO. 81.
FIVE OLD LETTERS.
BY MISS S. LUCY JOINER.
Copyrighted, 1887. by j. H. Estiu.l
CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER V.
l was but IA when I went back to Har-
wood Place, but seemed to myself years
older My cousin Harold was my guar
dian. My fathers lands adjoined his. He
was fine, handsome man, quiet and digni-
fled in manner, but warm and tender in his
affections.
Three years after my return he was mar
ried People rather wondered at his choice
She was girl of plain family and an or
phan, but of rare beauty, of rather I'M
usual style She was rarely gifted, too, be-
ing fine musician and an artist of some
reputation. She taught music in the family
of one of his friends. He met her there oc-
casionally, and she interested him in spite
of the proud Indifference with which she
met his efforts to gain her confidence. Per-
haps he loved her first because she was the
only woman he knew who did not try to
please him. He could see how naughty she
was, yet am sure he thought she would
soften in the genial atmosphere of hishome.
She was person of decided character, but
under her cold exterior she hid one weak
point. She was ashamed of her family,
and jealous of any allusion to it. Twas too
young to know much of Such things, but |
knew a kind of shadow fell over the happy
household after she came.
When / look back-as middle-aged per-
sons will look back-on the years spent at
HARDWOOD Place, they seem to have swept
by me like dream. They seem. of course,
to have been one long day of sunshine and
gladness. Human nature has a wonderful
faculty of clarifying the past In the haze
of distance the joys loom up; and the lit
tie everyday worries, the cross words we
said, the wrongs we felt most keenly then
are quite swept away by the loving hand
of memory. How can it be otherwise, when
the sharpest agony of that PARKWAY time
comes back to us with nothing deeper than
a tender half-pleasant sadness! The free
and joyous life led soon changed, the pale,
sad-faced child must have been into ro-
bust and active lad, excelling and delight
ing in all athletic sports. / grew as strong
and vigorous as one of the young oaks on
whose limbs performed such feats as no
gymnast might surpass. Or at least, so
thought my cousins. had my own horse,
black as the imp of darkness, and sur
named Satan by the girls. As never knew
his christian name, he bore that un-Chris
tian and suggestive appellation. And right
well it became himl To see him prancing
and cul'veting; arching his proud neck and
dilating his nostrils, and making the dust
fly beneath his slender legs was a sight
bL III ueeCteu DuU II bOuC1 VI d WulU6 IdIlu
on his neck, or sometimes n careSsing pat to
make lamb of him. In that he was not
unlike his master. Mad and merry were
the races we had. . Bessie ON her lithesome
Nell, as white as the sea-foam and as swift
footed and full of grace as Satan, though
not SO wicked. We had boat Of our own
alsO--the river ran just beyond the garden
wall-and many an afternoon was spent
upon the water, while gay young voices
do fbn nha aa.ala ft,arf for Il xsr,,
the banks.
How man loves to dwell on such bright
little remembrance after he has left his
youth behind him! When one has begun to
descend ever 50 little the height to which
his youthful aspirations pointed up which he
has climbed through toilsome years, tie
recollection of what was happy in his child
hood rings through his heart like beautiful
music. Sad indeed if harshness or mistrust
have made the song full of jarring chords.
At the age of 20, having studied under my
cousin Harold's direction, and having grad
uated creditably, decided ON the law as my
profession, and went to Germany for finish
ing course of study dreaded the parting
with my cousins, not dreaming that on my
return | should find such changes
Not dreaming that l should never
more clasp hands with the no
bic man TO whom / owed 50 much. If my
cousin Bessie had not taught me better, |
might have fingered on at HARDWOOD Place.
might have yielded to temptation that
argued with my reason after this fashion:
Even though he strongly advises it, there
Is no need OF my going. My education, as
1t is is above the average. After all ] am
my own master. have plenty Of money.
dread those years Of exile, and-and-l
am afraid to leave BessieI' But through
her influence, and his visions Of a nobler
manhood, a broader sphere OF usefulness
rose before me. IL was my plain duty TO
make use of the unusual advantages which
possessed. She had said 10 Inc when l
read Enid" to her one summers day.. that
was itself an idyl, that she understood how
Enid could not be content that the man she
loved should give up ambition for love OF
her She should haze IA man so weak. re-
member her words when / took my resolu-
ton. doubt if there were ever before two
such fresh, bright, enjoyable girls as my
cousins. They had grown up my compaii,
ions in most Of my outdoor sports, as well
a. IN the gentler pleasure of the iireslde. l
had pronounced them ''every bit as good as
boys in the days when, so 20 speak, we had
been boys together When / grew up my
secret conviction was that they were better
Than boys. Very much better. And that
no boy had ever before been blessed with
such playinates Josie, then perfect witch
OF merry-hearted sprightllness, had brown,
expressive eyes, and auburn hair OF pccu-
liar richness; perfectly regular features.
ana complexion Of an unusual creamy
Wilderness There was no flaw Ia the fresh
lair young creature from the crown Of her
head 20 the sole Of her dainty foot. And
none, 10 speak VI, in the sunny, loylowng
nnd joy-giyina nature She was perfect IN
ler sisters eyos Ia mine second only ~